Avail of carbon trading scheme, governor tells DENR
By ED SESTOSO
Negros Oriental Gov. Emilio Macias II has suggested to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that it should already begin drafting guidelines for local government units (LGUs) that may wish to engage in international carbon trading.
The governor believes that adopting the carbon credit scheme as espoused by the Kyoto Protocol would help mitigate the effects of global warming, said Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo.
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases that cause climate change.
It allows quotas on the maximum amount of greenhouse gases for developed and developing countries, who in turn set the quota for emissions by industries and other businesses.
Those who cannot use up their quota can sell their unused allowances as carbon credits to other countries.
The concept of carbon credits was conceived following an increasing awareness of the need for controlling emissions of greenhouse gases, notably, carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons.
According to Macias, LGUs can make use of the carbon credit scheme whereby first-world countries that have high rates of gas emissions can partner with them through by sponsoring environmental projects.
The governor cited Australia , which could sponsor a project such as massive tree planting in exchange for getting carbon credits from the Philippines .
Macias, during the visit of DENR Assistant Secretary Jayjay Yambao here recetnly said DENR must have policies and guidelines for local governments who may want to ink a partnership with foreign sponsor-countries to engage in carbon trading.
Yambao promised the governor he will bring the suggestion to Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.
The governor’s call came several days before the scheduled Negros Island Summit on Climate Change.
Expected to attend the summit are some 400 to 500 government officials and other stakeholders
The Negros Oriental Advisory Council on Climate Change (NOACC) is spearheading the activity slated on May 23 at the Negros Oriental Convention Center .
The group has agreed to invite Secretary Estrella Alabastro of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to keynote the summit opening
The climate change summit hopes to pave the way for the creation of an island-wide body similar to the NOACC that would draft and implement measures to address this global threat to the environment, Sedillo said.
The one-day summit will have a plenary and presentation in the morning followed by a workshop in the afternoon.
Expected to attend are governors, vice governors, chairmen of the committees on environment, health and agriculture as well as the provincial, city, municipal planning, environment, health and agriculture officers of the two provinces.
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Wed May 14, 2008 12:01 am